Improvement in coffins



J. GILBERT.

'COFFIN.

Patented. May 9; 1876.

N- PETERS, FHOTO'LITHOGRAPH 'vice.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.-

JOHN GILBERT, OF YPSILANTI, MICHIGAN.

IMPROVEMENT IN C OFFINS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 177,234, dated May 9,1876; application filed January 28, 187 6. a

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1,, JOHN GILBERT, of Ypsilanti, in the county ofWashtenaw, and State of Michigan, have invented an ImprovementinOoffins, of which the following is a specification:

My invention has for its object to so construct a metallic coffin thatwhen a corpse is placed therein, and the lid is closed down, the coifincannot be again opened; and to this end it consists in providing thecoffi-lid with internal self acting fasteninghooks, which will lock thelid to the coffin when placed in position thereon.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a portion of acoffin and lid, showingthem locked together by my automatic hooks. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectionof the same. Fig.- 3 is a bottom perspective View of a portion of 'thelid, showing the hooks held back preparatory to closing the coffin. Fig.4 is a perspective view, showing a modification of the fastening de-Fig. 5 is a vertical section of the same.

In the drawing, A represents a portion of a coffin or burial-casket, andB a portion of its lid, both of which should be made of plateiron ofsuch thickness and strength as to resist breakage or cutting by toolsordinarily used by grave-robbers. G is a metal bar secured to the innerwalls of the coffin, either continuously or in sections, provided atintervals with slots, the front end of each of which forms a lug, a,with which may engage a hook, D, pivoted between lugs 12 at the side ofthe lid. Behind each hook there is a leaf-spring,

a, so arranged as to throw down the hook, and after the hook is engagedwith its lug, the end of said spring being presented to the back of saidhook, serves as a stop to prevent the disengaging of the hook from itslug. To prevent the lid from being locked to the coffin before the timehas come for permanently closing the coffin the hooks may be held backby transverse rods d, Fig. 3, to be withdrawn when it is desired to lockthe lid in position, or by means of screws, pins, or other equivalentdevices.

In Figs. 4 and 5 is shown a modification of the fastening devices,consisting of pendent spring-hasps E, riveted or otherwise secured tothe lid, each hasp having a slot, 6, which engages with a wedge-block,f, riveted to the walls of the coffin when the lid is placed inposition. The hasp, in its descent, is guided fairly to the block byguide-flanges, 9, one at each side of the block.

What I claim as my invention is 1. The combination, with thespring-hooks D, of the rods d, substantially as and for the purposes setforth.

2. The combination, with the coffin A, having lugs secured to the sidesof the same, of'

the cover B, having pendent spring-catches engaging with the said lugs,substantially as described and shown.

JOHN GILBERT. Witnesses: I

H. F. EBERTS, H. S. SPRAGUE.

